Ironically, Modi is less like his role model Patel and much more like the first prime minister, whom he detests.

"Deftly blending the political with the personal, the Prime Minister utilised this school holiday to reach out to schoolchildren directly. In a function organised by the Union government, the PM delivered a speech and interacted with children from across the country. The event was widely seen as a PR success, with the media showering praise on the outreach."

This is a good summary of Prime Minister Modi’s Teacher’s Day initiative. However, it is also a perfectly accurate description of a function held at the National Stadium in Delhi on November 14, 1956 presided over by Prime Minster Jawaharlal Nehru. At the function, children paid tribute to Nehru with a PT display and a march past. Nehru went around the arena in an open jeep so the children could get a closer glimpse of him.

In 1952, the Indian Council for Child Welfare, an influential non-governmental organisation (one of its founding members was Indira Gandhi), decided to celebrate the Prime Minister’s birthday as Children’s Day and use that to raise funds. This idea was taken up with rare enthusiasm by Nehru himself and by various Congress state governments. The result of this propaganda is the image with which he is now bestowed, that of an avuncular statesman, a natural leader who appealed to every member of the nation, young as well as old. So powerful is this image that it survives even today; every child is taught in school that Chacha Nehru loved children and that they loved him right back.

Some dissonance

Modi’s Teacher’s Day interaction with students across the nation suggests he is doing his best to become the new Nehru, trying to burnish his image in much the same way the Pandit did. This is somewhat ironic because it is quite clear that Modi is not fond of Nehru. He has done his best to play down Nehru’s legacy, forwarding the claim of fellow Gujarati Vallabhbhai Patel as a counterweight. Modi does not mention Nehru in his speeches, and his move to disband rather than reconfigure the Planning Commission is indication of how he views Nehru’s legacy.

In reality however, Modi is more Nehru than Patel: a popular vote-catcher, not a backroom party man. Patel made seminal contributions to India but his work involved working with the nuts and bolts of the Congress party and, later, the Union government. Nehru, on the other hand, was the charismatic darling of the masses and had won elections for the Congress since 1937. The Congress was so dependent on him electorally that as Prime Minster the simple threat of a resignation was enough to get dissidents to fall in line.

Many Modi supporters expect him to fundamentally change the political consensus of country, much like Nehru did in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It is sometimes forgotten that until 1947, the Congress was by and large a Right-of centre organisation. The one bid for power by the Congress Left – the 1939 Tripuri session in which Subhash Bose decided to stand for re-election as President – was crushed effortlessly by the old guard. And while Nehru’s economic Leftism is often overstated – he simply followed the accepted consensus in development economics at the time – he had significant impact as a social progressive.

Nehru marginalised conservative thinking, bringing concepts such as secularism and social equality firmly into the mainstream. One of Nehru’s key achievements as prime minster was pushing through the Hindu Code Bills, giving most Indian women a large measure of equality in marriage and inheritance. These bills were opposed tooth and nail by the Right, both within and outside of the Congress, but Nehru saw the legislation passed.

The course this set India on is so emblematic of the nation that, five decades after Nehru’s death, the so-called Nehruvian consensus remains a significant driver in our politics, an idea formidable enough for Modi to feel threatened by and want to dismantle.

What's the plan?

But if Modi is to dismantle the Nehruvian ideas that have for so long seemed embedded in our political culture, we must ask what he will replace these with – what will be the new consensus? We know very little of the direction Modi wants India to move in, other than chasing “development”, a mantra so generic it is meaningless by itself. If Modi wants to build a new republic, he is yet to outline a plan.

Modi’s link with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has guided his political philosophy. He has written admiringly of MS Golwalkar, the second sarsanghchalak of the RSS. Golwalkar’s ideas are problematic, to say the least: he speaks of denying citizenship to non-Hindus and expresses admiration at the way Nazi Germany purged its Jews, claiming that it was “a good lesson for Hindusthan to learn and profit by”. The intellectual core of the RSS is so far from current versions of modernity that they seem almost comic. Wisely, Modi does not speak publicly of matters like this, though he does not seem averse to foot soldiers such as Yogi Adityanath using these divisive ideas when it comes to winning state elections – a decidedly short-term goal.

Modi’s interaction with some of the nation’s children indicated that he wants to fashion himself as the new Nehru, but without building a concrete set of ideas that he can call his own – a “Modivian consensus”, so to speak – and thinking only of short-term political gains, he could end up being more like Indira or Rajiv: a powerful leader with hard political power but one who does little to change the intellectual paradigm of the nation in a meaningful way.

Ten awesome TV shows to get over your post-GoT blues

With those withdrawal symptoms kicking in, all you need is a good rebound show.

Hangovers tend to have a debilitating effect on various human faculties, but a timely cure can ease that hollow feeling generally felt in the pit of the stomach. The Game of Thrones Season 7 finale has left us with that similar empty feeling, worsened by an official statement on the 16-month-long wait to witness The Great War. That indeed is a long time away from our friends Dany, Jon, Queen C and even sweet, sweet Podrick. While nothing can quite replace the frosty thrill of Game of Thrones, here’s a list of awesome shows, several having won multiple Emmy awards, that are sure to vanquish those nasty withdrawal symptoms:

1. Billions

There is no better setting for high stakes white collar crime than the Big Apple. And featuring a suited-up Paul Giamatti going head-to-head with the rich and ruthless Damien Lewis in New York, what’s not to like? Only two seasons young, this ShowTime original series promises a wolf-of-wall-street style showcase of power, corruption and untold riches. Billions is a great high-octane drama option if you want to keep the momentum going post GoT.

2. Westworld

What do you get when the makers of the Dark Knight Trilogy and the studio behind Game of Thrones collaborate to remake a Michael Crichton classic? Westworld brings together two worlds: an imagined future and the old American West, with cowboys, gun slingers - the works. This sci-fi series manages to hold on to a dark secret by wrapping it with the excitement and adventure of the wild west. Once the plot is unwrapped, the secret reveals itself as a genius interpretation of human nature and what it means to be human. Regardless of what headspace you’re in, this Emmy-nominated series will absorb you in its expansive and futuristic world. If you don’t find all of the above compelling enough, you may want to watch Westworld simply because George RR Martin himself recommends it! Westworld will return for season 2 in the spring of 2018.

3. Big Little Lies

It’s a distinct possibility that your first impressions of this show, whether you form those from the trailer or opening sequence, will make you think this is just another sun-kissed and glossy Californian drama. Until, the dark theme of BLL descends like an eerie mist, that is. With the serious acting chops of Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman as leads, this murder mystery is one of a kind. Adapted from author Liane Moriarty’s book, this female-led show has received accolades for shattering the one-dimensional portrayal of women on TV. Despite the stellar star cast, this Emmy-nominated show wasn’t easy to make. You should watch Big Little Lies if only for Reese Witherspoon’s long struggle to get it off the ground.

4. The Night of

The Night Of is one of the few crime dramas featuring South Asians without resorting to tired stereotypes. It’s the kind of show that will keep you in its grip with its mysterious plotline, have you rooting for its characters and leave you devastated and furious. While the narrative revolves around a murder and the mystery that surrounds it, its undertones raises questions on racial, class and courtroom politics. If you’re a fan of True Detective or Law & Order and are looking for something serious and thoughtful, look no further than this series of critical acclaim.

5. American Horror Story

As the name suggests, AHS is a horror anthology for those who can stomach some gore and more. In its 6 seasons, the show has covered a wide range of horror settings like a murder house, freak shows, asylums etc. and the latest season is set to explore cults. Fans of Sarah Paulson and Jessica Lange are in for a treat, as are Lady Gaga’s fans. If you pride yourself on not being weak of the heart, give American Horror Story a try.

6. Empire

At its heart, Empire is a simple show about a family business. It just so happens that this family business is a bit different from the sort you are probably accustomed to, because this business entails running a record label, managing artistes and when push comes to shove, dealing with rivals in a permanent sort of manner. Empire treads some unique ground as a fairly violent show that also happens to be a musical. Lead actors Taraji P Henson and Terrence Howard certainly make it worth your while to visit this universe, but it’s the constantly evolving interpersonal relations and bevy of cameo appearances that’ll make you stay. If you’re a fan of hip hop, you’ll enjoy a peek into the world that makes it happen. Hey, even if you aren’t one, you might just grow fond of rap and hip hop.

7. Modern Family

When everything else fails, it’s comforting to know that the family will always be there to lift your spirits and keep you chuckling. And by the family we mean the Dunphys, Pritchetts and Tuckers, obviously. Modern Family portrays the hues of familial bonds with an honesty that most family shows would gloss over. Eight seasons in, the show’s characters like Gloria and Phil Dunphy have taken on legendary proportions in their fans’ minds as they navigate their relationships with relentless bumbling humour. If you’re tired of irritating one-liners or shows that try too hard, a Modern Family marathon is in order. This multiple-Emmy-winning sitcom is worth revisiting, especially since the brand new season 9 premiers on 28th September 2017.

8. The Deuce

Headlined by James Franco and Maggi Gyllenhaal, The Deuce is not just about the dazzle of the 1970s, with the hippest New York crowd dancing to disco in gloriously flamboyant outfits. What it IS about is the city’s nooks and crannies that contain its underbelly thriving on a drug epidemic. The series portrays the harsh reality of New York city in the 70s following the legalisation of the porn industry intertwined with the turbulence caused by mob violence. You’ll be hooked if you are a fan of The Wire and American Hustle, but keep in mind it’s grimmer and grittier. The Deuce offers a turbulent ride which will leave you wanting more.

9. Dexter

In case you’re feeling vengeful, you can always get the spite out of your system vicariously by watching Dexter, our favourite serial killer. This vigilante killer doesn’t hide behind a mask or a costume, but sneaks around like a criminal, targeting the bad guys that have slipped through the justice system. From its premier in 2006 to its series finale in 2013, the Emmy-nominated Michael C Hall, as Dexter, has kept fans in awe of the scientific precision in which he conducts his kills. For those who haven’t seen the show, the opening credits give an accurate glimpse of how captivating the next 45 minutes will be. If it’s been a while since you watched in awe as the opening credits rolled, maybe you should revisit the world’s most loved psychopath for nostalgia’s sake.

Available starting October

10. Rome

If you’re still craving an epic drama with extensive settings and a grandiose plot and sub-plots, Rome, co-produced by HBO and BBC, is where your search stops. Rome is a historical drama that takes you through an overwhelming journey of Ancient Rome’s transition from a republic to an empire. And when it comes to tastes, this series provides the similar full-bodied flavour that you’ve grown to love about Game of Thrones. There’s a lot to take away for those who grew up quoting Julius Caesar, and for those looking for a realistic depiction of the legendary gladiators. If you’re a history buff, give this Emmy-winning show a try.

For your next obsession, Hotstar Premium has you covered with its wide collection of the most watched shows in the world. Apart from the ones we’ve recommended, Indian viewers can now easily watch other universally loved shows such as Silicon Valley and Prison Break, and movies including all titles from the Marvel and Disney universe. So take control of your life again post the Game of Thrones gloom and sign up for the Hotstar Premium membership here.

This article was produced by the Scroll marketing team on behalf of Hotstar and not by the Scroll editorial team.